So, we went to a bike collector's "divorce sale" to see if he had a bike for my gf (we are looking for a 5 speed green Collegiate for her), and also to see what kind of middleweight stuff he had. No dice on a Collegiate. He had a few middleweights hanging in his shed, and his asking price was more or less $150 on each of them. I noticed that one of them was in decent condition, had a 2-speed Bendix hub and neat looking generator light set, and asked him to take it down. It was an early 60s American.
I took it out for a spin, and it rode really nice compared to other middleweights I've been on. I needed a rider with more than one speed, so I decided to get it. I wasn't too jazzed paying $150 for it since I'm "thrifty", but I wanted a rider sooner rather than later. While paying for the bike, I looked at the label on the chainguard, and went "WTF? I've never heard of that model before..."
I researched the "King Size" when I got home. The frame is larger... so that's why it rode so nice! Turns out I ended up with a pretty rare middleweight! I'm ecstatic about the find, but now I'm hesitant to subject it to daily use and the constant Portland rain.
I took it out for a spin, and it rode really nice compared to other middleweights I've been on. I needed a rider with more than one speed, so I decided to get it. I wasn't too jazzed paying $150 for it since I'm "thrifty", but I wanted a rider sooner rather than later. While paying for the bike, I looked at the label on the chainguard, and went "WTF? I've never heard of that model before..."
I researched the "King Size" when I got home. The frame is larger... so that's why it rode so nice! Turns out I ended up with a pretty rare middleweight! I'm ecstatic about the find, but now I'm hesitant to subject it to daily use and the constant Portland rain.
